The Habits of God's Folks

In this current world, this confused and expanding world, this war-torn world where violent power leaps around us like a tennis match. No one wins. It’s up to the people, maybe based on their mood that day or hour or what happened in their homes that morning as the home emptied into the streets for jobs, schools and shots at the grocery store. This world, this nation, whatever city seems to struggle to get rid of anyone who doesn’t agree with a person’s powers and aims in life.
 
There are same sex couples who, in these days, can be blessed by Priests. Pope Francis has encouraged that, and this is a great “why” that has been answered and it gives so much love and power in the walk along with talk and prayer of those men and women who are holy, and fine, and beloved, and are courageous and this makes another wing of the growth of the church worldwide. It is a way to see what the Pope sees and identifies and points out to all people that this is a truth, because God has put him on earth to bring people together, to heal those in pain and disaster, and to pass on the promises and hopes and gracefulness that we who loves the Lord and thus the Pope. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the England side of faith, also has a road to follow in his pathway and to take the steps toward heaven, wherever that is. 
 
How we get there, and who we will meet and see again around the throne of God, is a mystery, but hopefully someone will bring the recipes for chimichurri, dulce de leche, alfajores, empanadas, matambre, arrollado, and that horrible Yerba mate habit of sucking through a pure long silver spoon. Well, I didn’t buy into marijuana nor efforts to help one float into the air like it was called in the play HAIR. I wonder if the Pope, being Argentine, actually indulged in Ma’te every morning and late afternoon. That’s what most people in those parts do; yes, my husband does it twice a day, but not me. I don’t inhale anything but fresh air. But I have to scrape and clean out the used yerba to prepare fresh Ma’te for the next time - basically twice a day. 
 
The Pope is a similar age to mine. He often has to fight off bronchitis, since he must speak and pray as loud as his voice can do and communicate with all sorts of people from all sorts of countries. The day I had the privilege of meeting and being blessed by Pope Francis, there were all sorts of Latin languages and probably friends of the Pope there from Argentina, and I wondered if he relaxes more when he has a roomful of friends from his native state, maybe friends he knew in his days in Argentina. So, it’s like, and probably true, seeing friends with whom they may have hung out together over the younger years, but when one is Pope, that closes the door to so many activities or chances to be with old friends, who maybe understand him better than most. I wonder if before his death, he blessed Diego Maradona and surely, he has been blessed by the popular superstar Messi, still kicking balls in Miami, at this time. Did Pope Francis play soccer early on in his life? It definitely is the obsession of almost everyone who lives in Argentina - as well as the popular “mate” and extraordinary beef.
 
Things must be tough for a Pope. Our current Pope, to be clear, birthed and raised in Argentina, which is rare in the history of popes, and so he has dealt with a lot of problems not of faith but of health. He has presented many new things that it seems he wanted to get in the pot before he passes on. But he also was anxious to cover one important statement and that was to give same sex couples his blessings whether they be priests, Cardinals, Archbishops, or the Pope. This is major, and particularly in Italy. It’s not easy for the Roman Catholics - least likely to change its policies. 
 
Yet, Pope Francis will be 87 this year and that doesn’t declare that he is getting any stronger nor does it mean broadening the scope of who could receive his position. Blessings mount up as to a real development, that specific and innovative contribution to the pastoral meaning of blessings. He has cracked down on his most incessant conservative critics. That includes ordaining gay clergy.  And he expresses and nurtures openness to transcendences so that the doors to God are not so complicated and ignored. It is not a small thing in the world in which we live. It is a seed, though, of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered. The new declarations open the doors to non-liturgical stricture for same-sex couples, something that had been previously off limits for bishops, priests, and deacons. As I have already pointed out elsewhere, transgender people are God’s children too and so can be baptized, serve as godparents and be witnesses at weddings, furthering his vision of a more inclusive church.
 
I often wonder, being of Argentina, if Pope Francis made it clear that he did not want the delivering of a blessing to same-sex couple by an ordained minister to become a simple protocol, as had been the case in parts of the liberal German church. He has urged priests to be open to channels beyond norms. I wonder if he watches soccer, Messi, the super star who can do no evil, it seems; even American football finals as we creep up to the Super Bowl. Does he enjoy those things? I know the Pope loves to walk through the most gorgeous part of his gardens. When I met him, and as he held my hand a minute, I asked him to please bless all the youth who are in prisons in Uruguay and Argentina. He was shocked with my request - probably not something requested often - but he seemed impressed and confirmed they were in his prayers.
 
When I was 18 and with a group of girls scattered from various places in the USA, I indulged on my initial trip “abroad” to learn about Europe, Pope Pius XII was the Pope at the Vatican, but he died on October 9, 1958 of Ischemia. He was succeeded by Pope John XXII who took, charge in those days. It gave us girls from various schools a chance to learn about the world. It as an eye opener, especially on the ship Christopher Columbus which took us across the waters, and at the end, we floated back on the Il de France. We did have an audience with Pope Pius I met when, at age 18, I went with a group of teenage girls to see Europe. I guess it was the beginning of learning about the rest of the world. It was an eye opening, especially on the Christopher Columbus going across to Italy and the Ile de France on the return from France. In that trip, a tour of Europe after the second World War, when the Holocaust was exposed, having horrified and slaughtered too many decent families and people with a Jewish character, although we were too young to understand the horror and the pain of all that had happened in Germany in the wars just passed, the masses tossed into dirt holes, ordered by Adolf Hitler, who we trusted had been removed from this planet. At least our president at that time was a calm respectful Dwight Eisenhower.

~ Rev

---------------------------------

audrey@audreytaylorgonzalez.com
www.audreytaylorgonzalez.com